Shop

You are here

Daly on the Move Again in Europe

By

John Daly continued his 2001 comeback on Thursday, firing a 9-under-par 63 to take a share of the lead with Richard Green at the BMW International Open.

Starting on the back nine first at Germanys Munchen Nord-Eichenried course, Daly opened with an immediate bang, making a birdie at the par-5 11th, and then holing his tee shot at the 153-yard par-3 12th for an ace.

Six birdies later ' including five alone on the front side ' and the 35-year-old long bomber was off the course with a blemish-free round of 63.

Click Here for John Daly's scorecard.

'I hit it about a foot and a half behind the hole and it spun back in,' said Daly of his heroics at No. 12. 'That really got my juices going and I can't remember when I last shot nine-under.'

For the record, Daly has only gone 9-under on one other occasion professionally. That came back in 1991, in the Las Vegas Invitational.

He may have trouble these days recalling the feat due in part to his turbulent past, which has been plagued with controversy and bouts of alcoholism and gambling addiction.

However, a recent marriage (Daly's third) seems to have spawned a resurection to the once-larger-than-life American star, and Daly has put together quite a solid season.

On the PGA Tour, he has played in 22 events, finishing in the top-15 on three occasions.

One of those came at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, where Daly shot another 63 to end in a tie for fifth, his finest showing of the season in America.

While that score only counted as 8-under - the TPC at Southwind is a par-71 - Daly's game has indeed blossomed in recent times on his native land.

He has been even better in Europe.

Although he has only played in two regular tour events, Daly cashed in a tie for 14th at the Carlesburg Malaysian Open, and then a tie for third in the highly-touted Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

'Everything in my life is very solid,' Daly claimed after his round. 'I have a great wife now, and I spend a lot of time with my kids and I have people around me who I trust with my life.'

Right with Daly is Australian left-hander, Green, who played later in the day, after Daly was in with his score.

Green's round consisted of seven birdies and an eagle Thursday, and was admittedly proud of the way he performed.

'It's pretty intimidating when you see somebody nine-under so early,' he said. 'It puts the pressure on you to make a good score.'

'But at least I don't have the Ryder Cup pressure,' he added. 'There is a lot of pressure on the (European) guys close to getting in.'

Indeed there is. Some, however, lived up to the challenge on Thursday.

At 23rd on the Ryder Cup points standings, Dean Robertson is trying valliantly to make the team, and he demonstrated he is hell-bent on getting there, shooting 64 on Day 1 to end just a shot off the pace entering Friday.

Andrew Oldcorn and Sergio Garcia are also putting in their closing bids for The Belfry.

At 19th on the list, only a win can assure Garcia guaranteed placement on the team, yet he has been rumored to be a captain's pick by Sam Torrance should he finish outside the top-10.

He did his cause just fine Thursday, going around Munchen Nord in 5-under 67 to be tied for tenth.

Oldcorn also shot 67. His situation is slightly different, however.

At No. 13, the Scottish veteran must only overtake Phillip Price, Ian Poulter and Miguel Angel Jimenez to climb into the automatically-qualifying top-10.